The international community has recently ratcheted up the pressure against the TTP because of its ties with al-Qa`ida and its global jihadist ideology. For example, the United States banned the group back in September 2010 when Amb. Daniel Benjamin, the State Department’s Coordinator for Counterterrorism, characterized the group as “very much part of the most dangerous terrorist threat that the United States faces…The TTP and al-Qa`ida have a symbiotic relationship: TTP draws ideological guidance from al-Qa`ida, while al-Qa`ida relies on the TTP for safe haven in the Pashtun areas along the Afghan-Pakistani border…This mutual cooperation gives TTP access to both al-Qa`ida’s global terrorist network and the operational experience of its members…TTP is a force multiplier for al-Qa`ida.” Britain moved to ban the group last January and Canada banned the group earlier this month.

Formed in 2007 under the leadership of Baitullah Mehsud, the TTP is an alliance of violent extremist groups based in northwestern Pakistan. Although the TTP’s initial goals were local and regional (e.g. resisting Pakistani forces in the tribal areas and NATO forces in Afghanistan and enforcing Sharia in areas under its control), it has since demonstrated an increasingly global jihadist posture – in line with that of al-Qa`ida – in its words and actions. This global jihadist trend – exemplified in the group’s involvement in the attempted bombing of New York City’s Times Square – has brought the group under international scrutiny, culminating in last week’s UN designation.

Let’s take a look at the group’s recent activities that demonstrate TTP’s alignment with al-Qa`ida and its global jihadist ideology.

Recent Statements

The TTP’s official statement following the death of Usama bin Ladin said, “the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, Al-Qaeda, and Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan share the same common goal. No one can disunite them…Based upon this, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan has announced that they will seek revenge, and through operations carried out against this government’s secret agencies, they have proved true to their intent.”

TTP spokesperson Ihsanullah Ihsan also released a statement in which he asserted, “al-Qa`ida is not only close to [the] TTP but to every Mujahid and we will avenge him together. If none other help us in avenging his death, we will do it alone.”

Recent Targets

In addition to attacks on Pakistani forces, the TTP has attempted and executed several attacks against U.S. interests in the region and the homeland. Below are a few recent examples:

The TTP and its activities have been mentioned periodically in al-Qa`ida in the Arabian Peninsula’s (AQAP) English-language magazine Inspire. In fact, the most recent issue contained a one-page advertisement (see below) that gives “special thanks” to the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan “for taking revenge on behalf of Usama bin Ladin.” This issue also profiles a TTP commander commenting on the death of bin Ladin (see below). Previous issues of Inspire magazine have included several inserts quoting and picturing Faisal Shehzad (see below), the man who attempted to bomb Times Square.

Also, @IbnSiqilli has done some great work on how the TTP’s recent media activities demonstrate the group’s growing connections to the global jihadist movement. Check out his recent blog post and Foreign Policy article on this issue.